Optical Catheter Carriage Interlock System and Method

Abstract

An optical catheter system comprising an intraluminal catheter that provides optical signals to a patient and carries optical signals from the patient, an outer housing, and an inner carriage that moves longitudinally relative to the outer housing and rotates relative to the outer housing during operation when the catheter system is being driven by a pullback and rotation system. The optical catheter system has an interlock system that prevents rotation and longitudinal movement of the inner carriage in the outer housing until attached to the pullback and rotation system. The pullback and rotation system comprises a frame and a catheter system interface, attached to the frame, to which the catheter system is coupled. A carriage drive system is further provided that moves longitudinally and rotates relative to the frame to provide rotation and longitudinal drive to the catheter system. A longitudinal drive system has a drive motor for advancing and/or withdrawing the carriage drive system and a manual drive input enabling a user to manually advance or withdrawal the carriage drive system. A latching system holds the carriage drive system when the catheter system is being attached to the pullback system.

1 . A catheter system, comprising: 
 an intraluminal catheter for insertion into a patient including: 
 an outer jacket, and  
 an inner scanning body that rotates and moves longitudinally within the outer jacket; and  
   a handle portion, including: 
 an outer housing mechanically coupled to the outer jacket, and  
 an inner carriage at least partially within the outer housing and mechanically coupled to the inner scanning body.  
   
     
     
         2 . A catheter system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inner scanning body comprises an optical fiber bundle, including at least one optical fiber, for transmitting optical signals between a head of the intraluminal catheter and the inner carriage.  
     
     
         3 . A catheter system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the inner carriage comprises one or more optical connectors for providing optical connection to the optical fiber bundle.  
     
     
         4 . A catheter system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inner scanning body comprises a torque cable for transferring rotation from the inner carriage through the inner scanning body to a head of the intraluminal catheter.  
     
     
         5 . A catheter system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the outer housing functions as a handle for attachment of the catheter system to a pullback and rotation system.  
     
     
         6 . A catheter system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inner carriage comprises a bayonet member projecting axially from a proximal side of the inner carriage for rotationally aligning the inner carriage during attachment to a pullback and rotation system.  
     
     
         7 . A catheter system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a catheter carriage interlock system that secures the inner carriage within the outer housing at least during transportation.  
     
     
         8 . A catheter system as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the catheter carriage interlock system prevents rotation of the inner carriage within the outer housing.  
     
     
         9 . A catheter system as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the catheter carriage interlock system prevents extraction of the inner carriage from the outer housing.  
     
     
         10 . A catheter system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the catheter carriage interlock system prevents rotation of the inner carriage within the outer housing.  
     
     
         11 . A catheter system as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising a release member on a pullback and rotation system for disengaging the catheter carriage interlock system so that the inner carriage is able to rotate and move relative to the outer housing.  
     
     
         12 . A catheter system as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the catheter carriage interlock system comprises at least one lever arm that pivots to engage the inner carriage to prevent rotation and/or extraction of the inner carriage from the outer housing.  
     
     
         13 . A catheter carriage interlock system for an optical catheter system comprising an intraluminal catheter that provides optical signals to a patient and carries optical signals from the patient, an outer housing, and an inner carriage that moves longitudinally relative to the outer housing and rotates relative to the outer housing during operation when the catheter system is being driven by a pullback and rotation system, the interlock system comprising: 
 a carriage locking system that prevents rotation and longitudinal movement of the inner carriage in the outer housing; and    an unlocking system on the pullback and rotation system that unlocks the carriage locking system to free the inner carriage to rotate and move longitudinally relative to the outer housing when the catheter system is connected to the pullback and rotation system.    
     
     
         14 . An interlock system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the catheter locking system comprises at least one lever arm that pivots to engage the inner carriage to prevent rotation and/or extraction of the inner carriage from the outer housing.  
     
     
         15 . An interlock system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the at least one lever arm mechanically interferes with an extraction shoulder on the inner carriage to prevent extraction of the carriage from the outer housing.  
     
     
         16 . An interlock system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the at least one lever arm mechanically interferes with a rotation shoulder on the inner carriage to prevent rotation of the carriage in the outer housing.  
     
     
         17 . An interlock system as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the at least one lever arm mechanically interferes with an extraction shoulder on the inner carriage to prevent extraction of the carriage from the outer housing.  
     
     
         18 . An interlock system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the unlocking system comprises a ring that engages the at least one leverage arm to pivot the at least one lever arm out of engagement with the inner carriage.  
     
     
         19 . A catheter carriage interlock method for an optical catheter system comprising an intraluminal catheter that provides optical signals to a patient and carries optical signals from the patient, an outer housing, and an inner carriage that moves longitudinally relative to the outer housing and rotates relative to the outer housing during operation when the catheter system is being driven by a pullback and rotation system, the interlock method comprising: 
 preventing rotation and longitudinal movement of the inner carriage in the outer housing at least during transportation of the optical catheter system; and    unlocking the inner carriage to free the inner carriage to rotate and move longitudinally relative to the outer housing when the optical catheter system is connected to a pullback and rotation system.    
     
     
         20 . A catheter system, comprising: 
 an intraluminal catheter for insertion into a patient including: 
 an outer jacket, and  
 an inner scanning body that rotates and moves longitudinally within the outer jacket during operation; and  
   a handle portion, including an outer housing mechanically coupled to the outer jacket, and    a catheter housing locking mechanism for securing the handle portion to a frame of the pullback and rotation system until unlocked by a user.    
     
     
         21 . A catheter system as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the catheter housing locking mechanism is actuated by a user to release the handle portion from the frame.